Bristol City coach defends Lloyd Kelly after Stoke City withdrawal

In Wednesday’s Bristol City press conference, assistant manager Dean Holden was full of praise for young left-back, Lloyd Kelly.

Kelly was substituted at half-time during Bristol City’s 1-0 defeat at home to Stoke City on the weekend and after City produced a spirited second-half display which should have earned them at least a point, plenty of fans have suggested that Chelsea loanee Jay DaSilva deserves a start.

Holden was quick to point out the outstanding breakthrough few months that Kelly has had, though.

T-2 days

There’s just two more days before the Robins travel to Berkshire to face Reading.

Can City continue their away form?

We’ll have all the build-up here.

(Image: Get reading)

Selection issues for Johnson

He also explained how Johnson planned to fit the returning injured players into his plans.

We’ve got a selection to make now. In the next couple of days, the manager will sit down and pick the squad for the weekend. We’ve very pleased with the players we’ve got available at the moment, we’re still one or two short in terms of injuries but hopefully they won’t be too much longer as well, aside from Korey Smith. Overall we’re pretty pleased, there’s players coming back all the time, and competition for places is quite strong at the moment. There’s places up for grabs.

Read the full transcript from Holden ahead of Reading.

Mo Eisa of Bristol City

Game time for Hegeler

Speaking at yesterday’s press call, Dean Holden explained more about the friendly game with Yeovil Town on Tuesday.

He said: It was a good game for us. We were able to get Mo Eisa and Hakeeb Adelakun some minutes, which was good. Nathan Baker got 45 as well, Jens Hegeler got some game time and one or two of our younger loan players came back and played some minutes along with some real youngsters as well. All in all, it was a good game for us. It was Mo’s second game and Hakeeb’s first game from injury. They’ve been out a long time, the two of them, their attitude has been first class from day one and we’re very pleased with where they’re at at the moment. They’re probably not physically quite there yet but they’re on their way back.

Jens Hegeler and Callum O'Dowda of Bristol City

Walsh on frustrating time

Liam Walsh admits his lack of game time for Bristol City has been frustrating.

The £1m January signing has yet to make his mark on the side although he impressed off the bench against Stoke.

Walsh feels it is in appearances such as that, and in training, that he can help himself break into the Robins side.

He said: “You’ve just got to keep your head down and work hard. Just come on and take your chance when it’s given to you.

“I felt that it’s been a long time coming, so I wanted to show the gaffer what I can do and cement my place in the team.”

Liam Walsh of Bristol City

Listen to latest Robins on the Wire podcast

Episode 49 is another packed Bristol City podcast. Hosted by Sky Sports’ Michelle Owen and Bristol City reporter Gregor MacGregor the pair preview the upcoming game at the Madejski Stadium after the disappointing home defeat to Stoke City last weekend.

In particular, the duo discuss was it poor finishing or was it just the brilliance of Jack Butland that stopped the Robins from scoring on Saturday.

And indeed we hear from Jack, who spoke to reporters in the Mixed Zone at Ashton Gate following the defeat on Saturday. There is also audio from the head coach’s press conference too.

Finally, there is mention of the events at Leicester City and we hear from David Moyes, who gives his opinion on the Robins currently and what it might take to get promoted - a brief excerpt from his exclusive interview with BristolLive last week.

Good morning

Welcome to all of our latest Bristol City coverage.

We’ll be here throughout the day with updates and news from Ashton Gate.